Kraft agrees to $2M matching donation, describes coordination with Sheeran
Robert KraftOwner, New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium
Robert Kraft said Ed Sheeran had contacted him to arrange a $2 million donation to aid the region, and that Sheeran plans to reach out to other venue owners as part of an effort to "build bridges."
“I have dedicated much of my life to building bridges between all people. I believe deeply that all lives are worth protecting. Earlier today, before Macklemore challenged me to match his donation, Ed called me and asked me to commit $2 million to match his donation to aid in the region to fight this humanitarian crisis. Ed now plans to reach out to other venue owners and our goal is to continue to work together to build bridges. In addition, I'd like the people who are speaking in support of the Palestinian people to know that for decades, I have supported efforts that create opportunity for Palestinians and have brought young Palestinians and Israelis together to build businesses, create jobs, and forge relationships.”
Original post
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” speech and removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour
At two Ed Sheeran concerts at MetLife Stadium, Macklemore called for a free Palestine, accused Israel of apartheid and genocide, and said criticism of Israel was not criticism of Jewish people. After venue objections, tour promoter Messina Touring Group said he would not perform the remaining U.S. Loop Tour dates. Critics characterized the performance as hostile or inappropriate; Macklemore defended it as a call for equal treatment.
Source and context
Original post
About this source
Gillette Stadium's official X account posting the full text of Robert Kraft's statement responding to Macklemore's donation challenge and Ed Sheeran's request for a matching pledge.
Reporting
About this source
NBC News report (via NBC Chicago, byline Doha Madani) on Macklemore's $1M Palestinian-relief pledge and invitation to Robert Kraft to match it, and Kraft's response statement (issued via the Gillette Stadium X account) describing a $2M match coordinated with Ed Sheeran.
Before the quotation
Issued via the Gillette Stadium X account shortly after Macklemore's pledge, describing coordination with Ed Sheeran.
After the quotation
The statement did not address whether Kraft's earlier objection to Macklemore's performance at Gillette Stadium had changed.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Kraft agrees to a $2 million matching donation coordinated with Sheeran and frames it as building bridges; he also defends his own decades-long record supporting Palestinian-Israeli relationship-building. The statement is a philanthropic coordination gesture and self-defense of his record rather than a reversal of his earlier position that Macklemore's specific performance was not welcome at his venue, combining continued support for Palestinian relief with no retraction of the original stance.
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- People and groups discussed
- Macklemore, Ed Sheeran
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The Dispute Index. "Kraft agrees to $2M matching donation, describes coordination with Sheeran". First published: 2026-09-17. Last updated: 2026-09-17. https://disputeindex.com/events/801-robert-kraft-said-ed-sheeran-had-contacted-him